Asta

Bai Shen kept his glasses on and said briskly, "I'll come help carry things."

-Bai Shen really is the kind of person who means what he says and brooks no argument. No wonder he's the big boss of the Universal Group!

-Forget him! I knew I wasn't imagining it! Look at Xie Jiali's expression!

Xie Jiali had indeed lost control of his expression for a moment, but he quickly recovered. Having appeared on plenty of shows, he was fairly sensitive to the cameras.

Still, when someone's emotions fluctuated too much, they sometimes showed.

He said, "Perfect. We can buy some more drinks and snacks, too."

At any rate, his tone gave nothing away.

Bai Shen gave him a meaningful look, as though he had figured something out, and smiled-a rare sight-before addressing everyone again.

"I'm very sorry I didn't join the games this afternoon, but the production team told me filming officially started at five."

He glanced at his watch. It was now 6:03.

Shi Zhou understood what he meant. Bai Shen's schedule must have been tightly packed, but the production team had started filming more than half a day early, leaving him with important work unfinished.

-Oh, so that's what happened. I was wondering why he wasn't acting like the gentleman he usually seemed to be. I thought his image had crashed and burned.

-Understandable. Someone in Bai Shen's line of work must be busy.

After his explanation, everyone expressed their understanding and relaxed considerably around him.

"Shall we go, then, Shen?" Lin Yuxi poked her head out, tentatively trying the familiar form of address.

Bai Shen answered, put on his coat, and turned to the others. "Let's go."

He led the way and opened the door for everyone. They changed their shoes and headed out one by one, discussing where to browse, what to buy, and what drinks to have with dinner.

Yu Manman was a little embarrassed. "Would it be okay if I had a little red wine? I'm afraid I won't sleep well somewhere unfamiliar."

Shi Zhou put on a light jacket and answered her, "Of course. We can buy some fruit, too. I want to make juice."

Xie Jiali smiled. "I'm not much of a drinker either. I'll have juice with you."

With that settled, everyone left, leaving Su Yue alone in the living room, which suddenly seemed empty.

Su Yue stood up and happened to meet the eyes of Shi Zhou, who was bringing up the rear.

Shi Zhou: "..."

He steeled himself and asked, "...Su Yue, are you coming with us?"

Su Yue shook his head and strode upstairs to the third floor with a book.

Shi Zhou thought, He's such a loner. What kind of person could ever work their way into his life and win his love?

"Zhouzhou, let's go!"

His companions called to him. Shi Zhou turned his head, raised his voice a little, and hurried out. "Coming!"

Whatever. It wasn't going to be him, anyway.

Warm, faint lights glowed in the garden. How lovely it would be to take a walk here with someone you liked.

Xie Jiali slowly withdrew his gaze and asked everyone gently,

"We can't all fit in one car. Did anyone else drive here?"

Yu Manman and Lin Yuxi were holding hands. At the question, they turned around and walked backward as one of them replied, "I drove, too, but mine's a two-seater."

As they spoke, a deep, powerful roar sounded in the distance.

Vroooom!

Yu Manman turned curiously. Lin Yuxi frowned. "Who's racing around on someone else's property?"

The several mountains in this area all belonged to the same owner. The road winding around them offered beautiful scenery, and tourists were allowed to visit, but they still had to follow certain rules.

Even a production team as large as Heart-Pounding Expedition's followed the rules while filming here. There were many places they would not wander into or touch without the owner's permission.

The sun set relatively early on Bogu Star. As the sunset faded, its orange glow sank into a ridge on one side. A cool evening breeze and the stillness of night crept in, and amid the gathering dusk, a dazzling streak of bright blue suddenly appeared, searing everyone's vision-

Vroooom!

The modified motorcycle was incredibly fast, trailing a long plume of flame. In the space of a few exchanges, its roar had already reached halfway up the mountain.

Like Moses parting the sea, it left only a fleeting glimpse of its rider amid the silent shadows of the trees.

A tall, powerfully built figure leaned over the silver bike, his shoulders broad.

Seen from above, he struck like a bolt of lightning. He leaned so low into the turns that he nearly scraped the ground, only to spring upright the next instant with thunderous force, handling the winding mountain road as easily as level ground.

The modified motorcycle was fast. Within moments, the man appeared before them.

He did not stop at the old mansion's main entrance. The black gate, which required an iris scan and a command to unlock, slowly opened with perfect timing.

He sped toward them, startling the two women into stepping aside. The rider swung around, and with a loud screech, the custom tires traced an arc across the ground before coming to a steady stop.

The engine's roar died, leaving sudden silence all around.

He braced one long leg against the ground. Clear lines of muscle showed as he moved his arms and unhurriedly removed his black leather gloves. Only then did Shi Zhou realize he was actually wearing a suit.

What a strange guy.

But that bike was so cool! And his cornering technique was amazing!

Shi Zhou's eyes lit up.

He had enjoyed motorcycles, mechs, and surfing before, too. Faced with such a beautifully modified bike, he couldn't stop looking.

The whole bike looked like a hulking suit of heavy-duty armor, silver from end to end except for a bold blue pattern down the middle. Presumably, the blue flame trailing behind it only appeared at full throttle.

His eyes and thoughts were entirely on the motorcycle. Everyone else's attention was drawn to the newcomer; only Bai Shen and Xie Jiali glanced at Shi Zhou.

Xie Jiali's gaze lingered a little longer. He pressed his lips together without speaking.

The odd man approached the guests and first greeted them from beneath his black helmet, his voice muffled. His narrow, tea-brown eyes held a smile, as though honey flowed within them. One look, and it was impossible to look away.

"Hi~"

Then he raised both arms and briskly removed his black helmet, running a hand through his slightly sweat-dampened dark brown hair to reveal his face at last.

He possessed the breathtaking looks of a Norse god, with sharply defined features and a distinct jawline that was not coarse. His nose was high-bridged, its tip slightly hooked, and his smiling lips curved with a hint of defiance.

But his eyes were the most unforgettable feature of all. Thick, long lashes framed deep-set eyes whose outer corners naturally drooped a little. When he smiled, it was as though spring's radiance had suddenly burst forth.

The live comments began howling:

-An alien sweetheart! Guys, where did the production team find all these gorgeous men?

-Holy shit, dude. He's the kind of handsome even other guys think is handsome.

-He looks like that actor who won an award before, only even hotter. Oh my god, those eyes are gorgeous.

-That actor's from his family, too. He's definitely not as handsome as this guest. The real beauties aren't even celebrities.

Holding his helmet and dressed in his suit, he smiled, making hearts race all over again. His voice carried a youthful note. "Hello, everyone. My name is Asta."

He first looked around, noticing four or five cameras in the air and two camera operators behind them, and raised an eyebrow.

Then he brought his gaze back, his tone sincere. "I'm sorry I frightened you two ladies. Please accept my sincere apologies."

His voice was smiling, rich and touched with an elegant cadence. Showing a glimpse of straight white teeth, he offered a bow that was casual yet graceful.

The displeasure on the two women's faces had long since vanished. They were even a little embarrassed to look at him, pressing their hands to their pounding hearts. "I-it's fine."

Asta seemed to carry a brazen scent of gunsmoke and leather, brimming with a rebellious, untamed air that could practically be smelled through the screen.

The new guest's powerful entrance immediately set off a flood of live comments.

-Oh my god, oh my god! Barring anything unexpected, I'll remember that entrance for the rest of my life!

-He's exactly my type! So hot, so hot!

-But he looks like the flirtatious type who loves playing around.

Sure enough, both women looked at Asta differently. They might have felt attracted to the other male guests, but with Asta, there was a push and pull: fear that he would break their hearts, yet an irresistible urge to get closer.

Even Zheng Yu couldn't help stealing several looks at Asta, shifting uncomfortably, though he eventually returned his gaze to Bai Shen.

Asta seemed oblivious to the effect he had caused-or, rather, he simply didn't care.

He greeted the others one by one. Bai Shen and Xie Jiali both looked composed, cold, and stern.

Xie Jiali's expression, in particular, was more grave than ever.

Asta wore the same smile. "Seeing is believing. I never expected to meet you two on a dating show."

Bai Shen and Xie Jiali had met many times at banquets and various launch events. They weren't close, but they weren't strangers either. This was the first time either had met Asta, whose words were polite but whose behavior was decidedly unconventional.

Xie Jiali withdrew his gaze, his smile flawless. "I didn't expect you to speak Earth's language so well. You even know ancient Chinese idioms."

One look at Asta's high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes made it clear he wasn't descended from ancient Earth. His bearing was gentlemanly.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir."

Asta tugged at the corner of his mouth. Young prude.

Bai Shen nodded as well. "A pleasure."

Asta already wanted to sigh. Old prude.

God, he'd thought this show would be interesting. Who knew it would be so boring?

He perfunctorily shook Zheng Yu's hand, then turned and saw the last person standing in the garden.

The young man had his head slightly lowered, gazing behind Asta with keen interest. Warm amber light fell across the nape of his neck, which extended downward as though sculpted from the finest creamy jade. Noticing Asta's gaze, he moved slightly and lifted his face, revealing a beautifully flowing profile. The corners of his eyes tipped upward, his bright black eyes filled with light as he smiled at Asta. Even his lips, just the right shade, looked gentle and restrained.

"Hello. My name is Shi Zhou."

Asta's expression brightened again, his smile widening.

Ah, even his voice was exactly to his taste!